Preparing the first space colonizers for life off of planet Earth

With private space engineers making huge breakthroughs seemingly every day, it’s only a matter of time until the average person can explore space. But when that day arrives, will the average person be ready?

Rick Tumlinson is, and he wants the rest of us to be, too.

That’s why the two-decade veteran of the private space industry hosts a special gathering every year for people who are thinking about how to live off Earth.

At the New Worlds Institute, would-be space explorers swap ideas and hone their plans for growing crops on the moon and settling Mars. But the goal of the conference transcends preparation. Proponents of gatherings like New Worlds claim they are necessary to share the space exploration gospel. As Daniel Faber, one of Tumlinson’s colleagues puts it, space explorers will need the same wide social acceptance to work in space that they need to work on Earth.  

“This is the future you can grasp. These are the things that space exploration will improve. Now, do you mind if we go and take some resources from a few of the millions of asteroids that are out there?” -Daniel Faber

The goal of New Worlds is to make a case to all humans that space exploration is worth it. Or as Faber likes to say when he meets with non-space nerds: “This is the future you can grasp. These are the things that space exploration will improve. Now, do you mind if we go and take some resources from a few of the millions of asteroids that are out there?”

Related
How Einstein tried to model the shape of the Universe
Two years after proposing his general theory of relativity, Einstein endeavored to find the shape of the Universe.
“Treasure map” guides scientists to massive meteorite
A “treasure map” highlighting places where meteorites are most likely to be found has led to the discovery of a 17-pound space rock.
Space travel will radically change human psychology and spirituality
We are living in a period of living and traveling in space. If we continue on this trajectory, we will develop new spiritual views.
Terraforming: why the Moon is a better target than Mars
While most of humanity’s terraforming dreams have focused on Mars, a better candidate may be even closer: the Moon.
Cosmic dust from Venus is inspiring new air pollution-busting technology
Inspired by chemistry observed on the surface of Venus, researchers produced a synthetic material that could improve air quality.
Up Next
Subscribe to Freethink for more great stories